Live wind
Water & wetsuit
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About this spot
Tarifa sits at the southern tip of Europe where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, and it is the undisputed kite capital of Europe. The two main beaches are Los Lances, the long town beach, and Valdevaqueros, the dune-backed bay a few kilometres west. Everything here revolves around two winds. The Poniente is a cooler west wind that blows onshore to side-onshore — moderate, steady and the safe direction for everyone. The Levante is a hot, gusty easterly funnelled through the Strait that can blow 30–50 knots for days and blows OFFSHORE: it will carry you towards Morocco, and in strong Levante you should only ride with a pre-booked rescue-boat service (Sea Rescue tickets are sold by the local schools).
The bottom is sand, the water deepens gradually, and in Poniente you get small to medium waves and chop; in Levante the water near shore is flatter but the wind is brutally gusty, especially near the mountains. Summer brings big crowds and strictly enforced kite zones — in high season kiting is banned on parts of Los Lances and everyone moves to Valdevaqueros.
Infrastructure is world-class: dozens of kite schools, shops, repair, beach bars and campsites, plus the rescue-boat system. Parking at Valdevaqueros and along Los Lances. This card's compass shows Poniente (W) as the safe wind; treat any easterly as a serious warning, not a normal direction.
3-day forecast
Speed / gusts in knots. Colour = rideability for this spot. Bottom row = recommended kite size for your weight — not recommended outside this spot's 14–30 kn range.
Conditions
- Water
- choppy, waves
- Depth
- Shelves gradually, sandbars
- Seabed
- sand
- Skill
- intermediate, expert
- Beginners
- Not for beginners — intermediate and up
- Wind range
- 14 kn – 30 kn
Access & parking
Tarifa town (N-340/A-7); Los Lances by the town, Valdevaqueros ~7 km west towards the dune.
Parking: Paid/free parking at Valdevaqueros and along Los Lances; very busy in summer.
Amenities
- Dozens of kite schools & shops
- Rescue-boat service (Levante)
- Beach bars & campsites
- Repair services
Needs local verification: Details compiled from general sources and not yet confirmed by local riders — check launch, parking and current rules on site. No spot-specific webcam verified; links go to Windy's nearby cams and wind map.
Local hazards
- Levante (E) is OFFSHORE and can reach 30–50 kn — ride only with a rescue-boat ticket
- Strong gusts near the mountains
- Summer kite zones and crowds
- Strait shipping traffic further out